Is it the actual graduation ceremony that's relevant? Something that happens before the ceremony? Something that happens after the ceremony? Or is it what the ceremony symbolizes? Finishing school? Heading to the real world?

Could you say the same thing about high school graduation? Graduate school graduation? Kindergarten graduation? (which, by the way, I don't get the point of at all! =) )

Is it the actual graduation ceremony that's relevant? No. Something that happens before the ceremony? Technically, yes. Something that happens after the ceremony? Or is it what the ceremony symbolizes? Finishing school? Heading to the real world? No to rest.

Could you say the same thing about high school graduation? Graduate school graduation? Kindergarten graduation? (which, by the way, I don't get the point of at all! =) ) Agreed. Yes to graduate school, no to rest except in certain circumstances.

Noel (Noel)

Or wait, instead of being about actual graduation, is it about the requirements needed to graduate? You could say that, yes. Course requirements? Failed classes? Major? But none of these.

Credit cards? No. Is the aggressive marketing of them to college students relevant? No, but isn't that so strange? Kids getting themselves in financial trouble? No, but OTRTish. Learning their lesson about something and never doing it again? No.

You said each "one" means strictly speaking the same thing but in different contexts. If we populated each "one" in the puzzle statement, would the first and second "one"s be made up of the same words?

Is it repayment of a student loan that is relevant? is the action of repaying relevant? or the physical bill one gets?

Is the "last one" related to graduation? Is the "first one" related to loan repayment?

You said each "one" means strictly speaking the same thing but in different contexts. Yes. If we populated each "one" in the puzzle statement, would the first and second "one"s be made up of the same words? No, although they would have a word in common.

Is it repayment of a student loan that is relevant? No. is the action of repaying relevant? No. or the physical bill one gets? Hm, yesish.

Is the "last one" related to graduation? Yes, or close to it. =) Is the "first one" related to loan repayment? No, but I think you're OTRT.

Does the occurrence of the event tend to vary by gender - a little? a lot? not at all? Not at all, to my knowledge.

Is the nature of the first/last event I don't know if I would call it an event, although it does take place within a time frame. related to a course requirement? No. Graduation requirement? Yope to yesish. Personal relationship? A physical object? A person? No to rest.

Is membership in a sorority relevant? A fraternity? Some other club/organization? No.

Are either of the "ones" a diploma? No.A credit card? No.Would this statement not apply to college students who paid upfront for their schooling? (Or I should say, had their parents pay for it =) Yes, it wouldn't.

Are parking tickets involved? I can't believe I'm resorting to this, but I'm trying to spoil one of your puzzles so you can put your new one up, which I can tell you are excited about...

Is the first "one" bigger than a bread box? An object? An idea? A piece of paper? Made of plastic?

Is the 2nd "one" bigger than a bread box? An object? An idea? A concept? A piece of paper? Made of plastic?

Is using a computer involved in this puzzle? Going to the bursar's office? Does it have to do with something that must be done to graduate? Having to admit something to your parents? Does it absolutely have to be their "last" one? (i.e. If this happened to me in undergrad, could it possibly happen again if I chose to go to graduate school or get my PHD?)

Are parking tickets involved? No.I can't believe I'm resorting to this, but I'm trying to spoil one of your puzzles so you can put your new one up, which I can tell you are excited about... Why thank you, Cupofsun, that's very nice of you. One will get solved today, I can feel it.

Is the first "one" bigger than a bread box? An object? An idea? A concept? Basically this. It's a time period.A piece of paper? Made of plastic?

Is the 2nd "one" bigger than a bread box? An object? An idea? A concept? This. It's technically the same thing as the first "one," but framed in a different context.A piece of paper? Made of plastic?

Is using a computer involved in this puzzle? Not necessarily, but probably.Going to the bursar's office? I don't believe that s/he would be involved with this specific process.Does it have to do with something that must be done to graduate? Yes.Having to admit something to your parents? No.Does it absolutely have to be their "last" one? No. (i.e. If this happened to me in undergrad, could it possibly happen again if I chose to go to graduate school or get my PHD?) Yes, absolutely.

About that word in common that both "one's" share: Is the common word a noun? Number of syllables 1? 2? 3? 4? Does it refer to money? a loan? debt? relationship? living arrangement? partner? will? phase of life? Is a legal document involved?

So, "the last one" and "their first one" are some kind of time periods? Yes. Or things that are done during periods of time? Ways of marking periods of time by what goes on in them, I'd say. Would students usually find them: Pleasant? "Necessary Evil"? Unspectacular? Could be any.

Wefigure (Wefigure)

About that word in common that both "one's" share: Is the common word a noun? Yes.Number of syllables 1? 2? 3? This. =)4? Does it refer to money? a loan? debt? relationship? living arrangement? partner? will? phase of life? This is closest; it refers to the time mentioned above.Is a legal document involved? Vaguely.

Uh-oh. Just spotten Noel's post. So the answer can't be as clever as my guess "break,broke" (smile), but it still must be clever, like it rhymes and has to do with being broke. So how about: For many students, their last semester of college is their first semester (or period) of homage? mortgage? bondage? pottage? pawnage? passage? shortage? upitty-uppage? I'm not gonna give uppage!

(Thanks Noel.) A few more tries... For many students, their last semester of college is their first semester (or period) of (true) knowledge?cleavage? (Hey, it could be LA)forage?image?toilage?OK, one more... it's a longshot, but here goes: pillage? (business majors)

Uh-oh. Just spotten Noel's post. So the answer can't be as clever as my guess "break,broke" (smile), but it still must be clever, like it rhymes and has to do with being broke. So how about: Haha, good guess.For many students, their last semester of college is their first semester (or period) of homage? mortgage? bondage? pottage? pawnage? passage? shortage? upitty-uppage? I'm not gonna give uppage! I promise that it doesn't rhyme with college.

Noel (Noel)

Does the second blank rhyme with "of college"? No. Have the same number of syllables as "of college"? No. Sorry, it's not a witticism, just a sentence. Is it a prepositional phrase? Yes. Or another part of speech? It's several words, and could be phrased in several ways.

Wefigure (Wefigure)

(Thanks Noel.) A few more tries... For many students, their last semester of college is their first semester (or period) of (true) knowledge? cleavage? (Hey, it could be LA) forage? image? toilage? I'm really not sure where the rhyming idea came from...no, but all are wonderful.OK, one more... it's a longshot, but here goes: pillage? (business majors) Haha no.

Is the sentence these exact words: "Their last semester of college is their first semester IN _____________" No.Insert other words for "IN" WITH WITHOUT This would be most likely, although there are several ways to phrase the general idea that I'm looking for.ON TO

Their last semester of college is their first semester working/with a job? No.

(Even if that's not it, I want to pull my hair out when I meet college seniors who have never had a job. Grrrrrrrr. :-) Haha, I'm glad I've had a job or two, then, for your sake. Honestly, though, I can understand focusing 100% on school while you're in it.

their first semester without something to pay for? Noish.their first semester without needing to pay for ___? Yesish, method of payment is relevant.

Wefigure (Wefigure)

How "lateral" is your puzzle? Truly (lateral in the classic sense)? Mostly? Slightly? Not really? I'm not sure I understand the question. Lateral thinking is a method of finding a solution by thinking of something not immediately obvious and inducing a flash of insight, rather than working out something step-by-step. So yes, it's definitely a puzzle that you can use lateral thinking to solve.

first semester without an ID card? an ID number? a student ID? financial aid? You're so close with this! What aspect of financial aid would not be applicable to the last semester? financial aid from parental units? first semester of financial independence?